As Kinder Morgan begins to meet federal regulatory conditions on its $7.4-billion Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, the company is slowly putting itself in a position to begin construction on some elements of the controversial mega-project.

In a letter posted on its website Wednesday, the National Energy Board said 49 conditions needed to begin construction on the Westridge Marine Terminal expansion in Burnaby have been satisfied.

However, the company will also need other permits to start construction, even where it has met NEB conditions, including from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for the Westridge expansion.

A project application submitted by Kinder Morgan to the port authority in June of this year is under review. When a decision will be made and a permit issued is unclear.

And there are other hurdles that could create delays for the project, meant to provide a major Canadian access point to new markets for Alberta oil in energy-hungry Asia.

In B.C., the new NDP government has said it will not issue permits until the company’s plans meet a test of First Nations consultation.

The provincial government, led by Premier John Horgan, has joined those who want to see the project stopped, including First Nations, environmental and community groups and municipalities such as Vancouver and Burnaby.

The project has the backing of Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberal government and the NDP provincial government in Alberta, as well as many business interests and trade unions in Western Canada.

Delays could also stem from NEB hearings over hundreds of objections on the pipeline route, including from landowners and First Nations.

The NEB announced Thursday those hearings will begin in November in Alberta, with dates for British Columbia being finalized later. A hearing for a route change in Chilliwack requested by the company will be held in early 2018, the NEB also announced.

Kinder Morgan declined to make any officials available for an interview Thursday to answer questions on its construction permit requirements and the route hearing on a potentially delayed construction schedule.

In a written statement, Kinder Morgan spokeswoman Ali Hounsell said meeting all the NEB pre-construction conditions for Westridge Marine Terminal is a significant milestone.

“Westridge Marine Terminal is a unique and very important part of our construction program and we’re working to secure all the necessary pieces to start construction activities this September,” said Hounsell.

“Trans Mountain and its contractors are committed to meeting our goals and timelines, and our team continues to complete the important work necessary to move the project forward in order to begin construction this year.”

Wilderness Committee climate campaigner Peter McCartney said he is sceptical the company will be able to start any major construction in September, and believes Kinder Morgan is putting on a good face for its investors as the project is behind the timeline they wanted.

However, McCartney said they are gearing up to be ready to protest should construction begin, for example, at the Westridge terminal or an oil tank farm in Burnaby.

He noted that about 100 people from both sides of the U.S.-Canada border took part in a camp last weekend to learn how to use kayaks to take action on the water against the Kinder Morgan project.

“Kinder Morgan and the federal government have drastically underestimated how this project undercuts the values people have here — and the depth of opposition,” said McCartney.

Environmental and community groups and First Nations are also taking part in a rally and march on Sept. 9 that starts at the downtown Vancouver Art Galley and will end at Sunset Beach.

Thomas Davies, a rally organizer and member of the coalition group Climate Convergence, said they will be asking rally-goers to sign onto or renew their pledge to do what it take to oppose the project.

So far, 20,000 people have signed the pledge, he said.

Karl Perrin, a spokesman for community group Burnaby Residents Opposed to Kinder Morgan Expansion, said he believes the opponents’ best chance to scuttle the project remains with the federal court.

ghoekstra@postmedia.com

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